The XXL iPad App for Digital Pathology – MultiTouch Microscope

There are a couple interesting discussions ongoing on LinkedIn group bulletin boards discussing the use of digital pathology for clinical purposes, regulatory issues and self-validation or use of the technology.  Part of the discussions bring to bear the use of handheld mobile devices for clinical use, skipping ahead of the requisite 24″ monitor or larger for image viewing and clinical diagnoses.

A number of us recognize the utility for such devices for ad hoc case review, emergent case review and when the technology allows you to help someone when the alternative means (i.e. onsite looking through a microscope) are inferior.

One posting read “Like using a cell phone for a lower voice quality call— we use them for the ability to accomplish the task where or when we couldn’t before, though I will state that I haven’t used mine to make a diagnosis while driving.”

One of the comments referenced the use of a “XXL” iPad developed a few years ago with a video illustration below.  The image quality is second to none with video reproduction.

From the “About” video portion on YouTube:

The multitouch microscope brings new dimensions into teaching and research. Researchers at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) and Multitouch Ltd have created a hand and finger gesture controlled microscope. The method is a combination between two technologies: web-based virtual microscopy and a giant size multitouch display.

The result is an entirely new way of performing microscopy: by touching a table- or wall-sized screen the user can navigate and zoom within a microscope sample in the same way as in a conventional microscope. Using the touch control it is possible to move from the natural size of the sample to a 1000-fold magnification, at which cells and even subcellular details can be seen on an interactive multitouch display table.

Read more at www.multitaction.com